Kings-Cavaliers Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSONPosted Feb 10 2014 4:45PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers haven't had much to be proud of during a disappointing season. However, putting together a modest win streak prior to the All-Star break could have them right back in the mix for one of the Eastern Conference's final playoff spots.

They'll try to notch a third straight victory for the second time this season and avenge last month's blowout loss to the visiting Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

Cleveland (18-33) seemed to draw at least a temporary spark from last week's firing of general manager Chris Grant. After a season worst-tying six-game skid, the Cavaliers have won back-to-back games since his dismissal, knocking off Washington and Memphis.

"I think it woke up a lot of people," said Dion Waiters, who combined for 42 points in the last two games after totaling six points in his previous two contests. "Me, I felt half of that was my fault, how we played. We just didn't come out right as a unit. I think it cost the man his job. If we had been playing the way we have the last two games he'd probably still be here. We can't dwell on the past, we've got to continue to play the way we've been playing and keep it up."

Kyrie Irving scored 28 - including the final four in regulation - in Sunday's 91-83 overtime victory over the Grizzlies. He was 4 of 4 from 3-point range after going 8 of 35 in his previous seven games.

"Everybody was putting too much pressure on themselves," said Irving, who is shooting 34.7 percent in four career games versus Sacramento. "We needed to go out there and play basketball. Going out there the last two games, whether the game gets tight or gets away from you, it should be fun"

Four games out of eighth place, the Cavaliers close out their pre-break schedule Wednesday at Detroit, one of the teams they're chasing in the East.

First, they'll look to stop a three-game slide against the Kings. Cleveland suffered a 124-80 loss at Sacramento on Jan. 12, the sixth-worst loss in franchise history. Irving was 3 of 14 with seven points.

The Kings (17-34) have lost nine of 11 overall and six straight on the road following a rough offensive performance in Sunday's 93-84 loss to Washington. They shot 35.4 percent - the third straight time they were below 40.0 - and committed 18 turnovers leading to 26 points for the Wizards.

Isaiah Thomas scored 30 on 11 of 24 shooting but the rest of the starting five combined for 31 points on 10 of 38 shooting.

Rudy Gay, who missed Friday's loss to Boston due to an illness, was 2 of 11 for five points - 15.3 less than his average with the Kings. DeMarcus Cousins recorded his fourth straight double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds but was held to 3-of-16 shooting. He had averaged 27.0 points over his previous three contests.

"That was not an offensive performance we were hoping for," Sacramento coach Michael Malone said. "Very hard to win on the road when you turn the ball over that many times. We talked about it going in that this is a team that does a great job turning their opponents over and scoring."

Sacramento was 15 of 30 from beyond the arc in its win over the Cavaliers and outrebounded them 50-32. The previous five matchups were decided by a total of seven points.

Copyright 2014 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Deng scores 22, Cavs avenge loss vs. Kings

Posted Feb 11 2014 11:27PM

CLEVELAND (AP) The Cleveland Cavaliers are headed toward the All-Star break on a high note.

So is Anthony Bennett, the much-maligned No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

As the Cavaliers avenged a 44-point loss to Sacramento with a 109-99 win over the Kings on Tuesday night, Bennett had 19 points and 10 rebounds - both career highs - in Cleveland's third straight win.

"You're starting to see a little bit of what we see in practice and the reason why we drafted him," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "He's a talented young man and he's starting to come to life a little bit. He's even better than what you saw tonight."

Former general manager Chris Grant, who was fired last week, was roundly criticized for taking Bennett with the first pick in June, but the rookie from UNLV has made major strides after being a non-factor until mid-January.

"Anthony Bennett kicked our butt," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "I'm sure Chris Grant is smiling at home - and deservedly so - because that was his No. 1 pick."

Bennett was smiling, too. Asked when the last time he had fun playing basketball he said, "I don't remember, but today was one of those days."

Bennett hit two 3-pointers in a little over a minute in the second quarter and scored 11 points in the first half. His 3-pointer with 4:40 left in the game gave Cleveland a 100-85 advantage. Bennett was aggressive going to the basket - going to the line nine times.

Bennett had shoulder surgery before the draft and didn't play in the summer league. He adjusted slowly once the season began, and his minutes were limited when he played.

That has changed.

"It feels great," Bennett said. "All the hard work I've put in with the players and coaching staff is paying off."

Brown began giving him playing time last month after he showed progress in practice.

"It's not anything that all of a sudden happened overnight," Brown said. "He's a good basketball player. He can pass it. He can shoot it. He can run the floor. He can finish in traffic. He can rebound."

Luol Deng led the Cavaliers with 22 points, and Dion Waiters added 20.

The Cavaliers, beaten 124-80 in Sacramento on Jan. 12, took a double-figure lead early in the second quarter and were in control the remainder of the game. Cleveland has won three in a row for the second time this season.

Cleveland also won three straight from Dec. 7-13. The Cavaliers will go for a season-high, four-game winning streak in their final game before the All-Star break on Wednesday at Detroit. Cleveland has won all three games since Grant was fired.

DeMarcus Cousins scored 21 points to lead the Kings, who have lost 10 of 12 and seven straight on the road.

The Cavaliers built a 67-49 lead in the third quarter. The Kings cut their deficit to seven points early in the fourth, but Cleveland went on a 7-0 run, sparked by Kyrie Irving's 3-pointer, to go ahead 91-77.

Irving, who was 3 of 14 with seven points in the first meeting, had 13 points and six assists.

The Cavaliers broke a three-game losing streak against the Kings.

Cousins, taking advantage of a matchup with Cleveland center Tyler Zeller, had 11 points and six rebounds in the first quarter. The Cavaliers played without starting center Anderson Varejao, who missed the game with a sore back. Cousins didn't score again in the half.

The Cavaliers used a combination of Zeller, Tristan Thompson and Henry Sims in an attempt to neutralize Cousins, who was averaging 22.7 points going into the game. The 6-foot-11 center attempted only two more shots the rest of the game and was 11 of 16 from the foul line.

"The effort wasn't there," Cousins said. "It was just bad overall. I don't really have an answer, but whatever it is, it needs to be fixed. After the All-Star break, we'll start fresh, which is what we need right now."

Tristan Thompson had 16 points and 13 points for the Cavaliers.

Isaiah Thomas scored 16 points, and Rudy Gay added 14 for the Kings.

Sacramento has dropped the first three games of a four-game trip that ends Wednesday against New York. The Kings are 6-19 on the road.

C.J. Miles (sore right foot) also missed the game for Cleveland.

NOTES: Asked to describe Varejao's injury, Brown said, "With Andy, it's his back and really his whole body that is sore, so it will be good to get him some rest, but obviously, you hope that it's not a long-term thing." ... Varejao won't travel to Detroit ... Malone spent five seasons as an assistant under Brown with the Cavaliers from 2005-10. ... Thomas and Kings F Jason Thompson each picked up two fouls in the first quarter. Thompson committed his third foul 34 seconds into the third quarter and was scoreless for the game.

Copyright 2014 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Notebook: Cavaliers 109, Kings 99

THE FACT: Rookie power forward Anthony Bennett -- the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft -- set career highs with 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Cavaliers beat Sacramento.

THE LEAD:Luol Deng scored 22 points and Dion Waiters added 20 points and eight assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Sacramento Kings 109-99. Power forward Tristan Thompson collected 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for Cleveland, which tied its longest winning streak of the season at three. DeMarcus Cousins led Sacramento with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while point guard Isaiah Thomas had 16 points and eight assists. The Kings have lost seven straight road games and own the worst record in the Western Conference.

QUOTABLE: "This feels great. All the hard work I've put in with the coaching staff and the players is paying off. I was just being anxious before, but now, I've calmed down a little. I just try to have fun, and that's it."-- Cavaliers power forward Anthony Bennett

THE STAT: The Cavaliers are 3-0 since general manager Chris Grant was fired -- their first three-game win streak since Dec. 7-13, 2013. All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, who had 13 points and six assists against Sacramento, is averaging 21.3 points and 8.0 assists since Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert made the move on Feb. 6. "I just feel like everybody was putting too much pressure on themselves before," Irving said. The Cavaliers compiled an NBA-worst 80-199 record during Grant's 3 1/2 seasons in charge.

TURNING POINT: Power forward Carl Landry scored four straight points to pull the Kings within 84-77 with 9:23 left in the fourth quarter, but the Cavaliers answered with a 7-0 run capped by an Irving 3-pointer. Sacramento never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way. "Give credit to Cleveland," said Kings coach Michael Malone, whose squad crushed the Cavaliers 124-80 on Jan. 12 at Sleep Train Arena. "We knew we were facing a team that's playing much better and would be at their best at home."

QUOTABLE II: "Anthony Bennett kicked our ass. I'm sure Chris Grant is smiling at home -- and deservedly so -- because that was his No. 1 pick. He believed in him, and he gets his career high in points and rebounds against us."-- Kings coach Michael Malone

HOT: The Cavaliers shot 12-for-21 on 3-pointers (57.1 percent), led by Deng's 4-for-5 performance and Bennett's 3-for-3 outing. ... Bennett raised his season field goal percentage to 31.9 by going 6-for-9 from the field. "Congratulations to him," Cousins said. "I'm not really concerned because he's not on my team, so congratulations." ... Cleveland center Henry Sims scored a career-high tying seven points in 18 minutes off the bench. ... Cavaliers rookie point guard Matthew Dellavedova dished out five assists without committing a turnover in 17 minutes.

NOT: Kings power forward Jason Thompson played 15 scoreless minutes and was benched in favor of Landry down the stretch. ... Sacramento made 14 turnovers, which the Cavaliers turned into 20 points, and allowed 30 assists on Cleveland's 41 baskets. "We've got a lot of guys feeling sorry for themselves -- that's pathetic," Malone said. "No one is going to feel sorry for you. You're a pro. Do your job." ... Cavaliers shooting guard Jarrett Jack scored two points and is averaging 5.0 points since being moved into the starting lineup six games ago.

QUOTABLE III: "The effort wasn't there. It was just bad overall. I don't really have an answer, but whatever it is, it needs to be fixed. After the All-Star break, we'll start fresh, which is what we need right now."-- Kings center DeMarcus Cousins

GOOD MOVE: Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (back, left knee soreness) and shooting guard C.J. Miles (right foot soreness) were held out of the game by the team's medical staff. Leading rebounder Varejao has been playing through back and knee pain for several weeks, while backup swingman Miles was hurt Sunday during Cleveland's 91-83 overtime win over Memphis. The Cavaliers' final game before the All-Star break is Wednesday in Detroit -- and Varejao is not traveling with the team, giving him eight days to rest and recuperate.

BAD MOVE: Cavaliers coach Mike Brown might have placed himself in the doghouse during his pregame press conference. When he was asked about the many charitable projects that his family is involved with in Greater Cleveland, the affable coach quipped, "I credit that to my wife, Carolyn, who is responsible for organizing all of them. I'm just like our dog Cocoa. Whatever she wants me to do, I will follow." Brown immediately realized his mistake and started laughing before asking Cavaliers executive Tad Carper to "help me out here."

NOTABLE: Cavaliers center Tyler Zeller made his fourth start of the season, scoring six points with four rebounds in 18 minutes. ... Thomas is the only Cleveland player to appear in all 52 games. ... Inactive for the Cavaliers were rookies Sergey Karasev and Carrick Felix (left patellar stress fracture).